First of this is a rant, Went to an gym today and i could not believe some of the people there. I was waiting for some to get seriously injured. Belayers not take slack as they climb. Then I am on a corner with an overhang and some stupid kids (REAL rock climbers excluded) try a ceiling. They clip the rope in to the ceiling. This a 5.13 climb, granted they are sticking to the route, but there is no way this high shool punk is going to make it (once again, real climbers excluded). He doesn't even go straight up. He is over 6 or 7 feet from where the rope is clipped and the belayer isn't taking slack. So he falls off and swings right into me. WTF. There needs to be a gym that doesn't rent gear so this stupid kids don't get in. He hit me with enough force that set me swinging. All the while he is laughing. Some people don't deserve the right to be there. I was so pissed. Had to wait forever for them to give up so I could go without fear of him hitting me again. End Rant.

If I didn't have such an awesome experience doing my first Gym crack, today would have been a wash... I would hope someone would tell me, if I we're doing thing's incorrectly, such as too much slack...or not paying attention to me, yappin' to others... Ego's aside, and I'd deliver it with care(?). Today, there we're so many people the gym. But, there was not only one party, but, 3 groups of kids under 12(?). And gym rules, are parents need to be present. But, they, the parents, we're all layed out on the Mat, talking. The kids, we're running around like spazzes! I was on a problem, last move...easily could have had fallen. Didn't though...and as I'm hangin, ready to downclimb, 4 kids go under me. Plenty of room, elsewhere. But, kids like mats...they'll choose a mat over floor everytime.

The gym takes you through a quick course on how to do stuff, then sits at the beginer wall and sits there until you can do it right without them telling you. So they should know. But in the future I will try to point out the error of their ways.

My home gym has a seperate gym for beginers and birthday partys, you need to pass a test to get into the main gym. and they ae wicked strickt about your belaying. and climbing straight up under your ancors.

I would have to say chill out man, if you want to go climbing find some place where stuff like this dosen't happen. That means find a crag near you and climb there man. The gym is a totally different place, that is why I dont go there.

Another solution would be to avoid the gym during the most popular times for birthday parties, such as Saturday/Sunday. Also, most gyms schedule birthday parties and groups at least two weeks in advance, so you could call the gym and ask them when the groups are scheduled.

Also, a lot of people who use climbing gyms do not have a lot of experience with climbing. If you see something that is downright unsafe, you should either approach the people who are not being safe, or if you are uncomfortable with approaching them, you should tell a gym staff-member to keep an eye on the perpetrators. Climbing gyms are not staffed well enough for the staff members to keep an eye on everyone at all times, so chances are, the staff will appreciate your input and your extra pair of eyes.

Pollux, i completly understand what happend to you. Im one of the oldest climbers at my gym, and there are a bunch of other kids that screw around and don;t know what they are doing. Iv seen a kid dropped from about 15 feet and slam on the ground. also, ive seen kids try hard routes and if they can't stick a move, the try to use the bolts! I keep telling to owner someone is seriously going to get hurt. Im not always going to be around to babysits these hyper punks.

I haven't run into that problem yet because I have only been to a gym at weird times so it was almost empty. Remember that gyms are where most of the newbies will go first to see what it is like. Can you imagine those same kids at the crags! Heaven forbid. Gyms are there for the money, not the climbers. Accept that fact and adjust accordingly. Either go when it is a down time for them or face the crowds of kids or quit going.